Voltaic battery.



EST 'AVAILABLE GCDPY l Patonted Feb. 26, I90VI. HENRI DE RUFZ DELAVISDN.

VOLTMC BATTERY.

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VDLTAIC BATTERY.

(Application led July 19, 1899.

2 Shoots-Shoet 2.

(No Nudel.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRI DE RUFZ DE LAVISON, PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO STE. DETUDE DESPILES ELECTRIQUES, OF SAME PLACE.

VO LTAlC BATTERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 668,838, dated February26, 1901. Application tiled July 19 1899. Serial No. 724,335. kNomodel.)

To ttZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, HENRI DE RUEZ DE LAVIsON, a citizen ot the Republicof France, residingin Paris, France, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Voltaic Batteries,of which the vfollowingis aspecitication.

My invention relates to improvements in voltaic batteries of the kind inwhich the current is produced solely by the attacking of the metal ofone of the electrodes by the electrolyte, and in which heated air actsas a depolarizer; but instead of the air acting outside the battery orescaping through the electrolyte, as in former batteries of this type,it is, according to my present invention, led into the copperelectrodes, where there is thus provideda kind of internal atmosphere ofhot air in intimate contact with the electrolyte and capable ofabsorbing on the electrode itself the hydrogen which is disengaged,causing polarization. For this purpose the bat-l tery is constructed asfollows:

Figure l is a transverse section of a cell of battery. Fig. 2 is avertical section, the gauze being broken away except at one corner. Fig.3 is, ona smaller scale, a general view of the battery with thereservoir of electrolyte.' Fig. 4 is a sectional perspective, on a largescale, of one of the negative electrodes. Fig. 5 is a similar view ofone of the positive electrodes.

My battery hasa number of elements, each of which has a negativeelectrode constructed as follows: Two sheets ofcopper gauze A or ofnely-perforated copper are set a little apart and soldered together atthe edges, so as to form a thin-case, into the lower part of which leadsa small air-pipe B, which is secured at a, or it may be extended alongthe baseat b with perforations for distributing the air uniformlywithinl the case. On the outside of this case, ou each side, is fixed aprotecting-sheet C of large-meshed copper gauze, which forms part of theelectrode. This sheet C is secured on the edges by a U-frame of copperc.

Each positive electrode consists of two zinc plates D, one on each sideof the negative electrode, each of these plates being covered thatextends along the battery above it from an air-pump F, which is workedfrom time to time to force heated air into the copper cases. Thisissuing through the meshes of the gauze clears away the hydrogen.

The electrolyte liquid is fed from a cistern R at one end oi the batteryby a pipe G with a cock r, which pipe descends to the bottom of thebatteryand overilows at the other end into a tank I by pipe H, whence itmay be transferred back to the supply-reservoir.

'The strokes of the air-pump cause, as it were, throbbing movements ofthe walls of the positive electrodes, which greatly promote thedepolarizing action. `Where the pile in use is subjected to externalheat, as is frequently the case, it is evident that the electrolyte willcommunicate a portion of its heat directly to the depolarizing air andobviate the necessity of additional heating means, or the electrolytemay be heated by passing it through a heater M of any convenient type.with the same effect.

I claim- A battery composed of positive electrodes formed of zinc platescovered with parchment-paper and inclosed in cases of non-conductingmaterial, negative electrodes of cop per which are hollow and haveforaminous walls adapted to contain an internal atmosphere of hot air inintimate contact with the electrolyte and capable of absorbing thehydrogen which is disengaged and tends to cause polarization, and meansfor connectingv the battery to a source of hot air.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 3d day of July,1899, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRI DE InIFz DE LAvIsoN.

Witnesses:

i 'EDWAED P. MAOLEAN, ALEXANDRE MATHIEU.

